International Yoga Day 2025

India's Global Cultural Legacy at 10

- Kasturika Tiwari

On 21 June 2015, the world celebrated the first International Day of Yoga following a United Nations (UN) resolution that received unprecedented support, endorsed by 177 nations. A decade later, the initiative stands as a testament to India's enduring cultural legacy and its soft power diplomacy. As International Yoga Day 2025 marks its tenth anniversary, it is time to reflect on the historical, philosophical, and global significance of Yoga and the far-reaching implications of its universal acceptance.

The Timeless Roots of Yoga

Yoga, meaning union in Sanskrit (derived from Yuj), is one of the six orthodox systems of Indian philosophy. It is a holistic science aiming to unite the mind, body, and spirit. The earliest conceptual foundation of Yoga is seen in the Purusharth Chatushtaya (5000-10000 BC), encompassing Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha.

Sage Patanjali (1500-2000 BC), often considered the father of Yoga, composed the Yoga Sutras, which defined Yoga as Yogash chitta vritti nirodhah—the stilling of the fluctuations of the mind. His framework of Ashtanga Yoga (Eight Limbs of Yoga)—Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samadhi—remains foundational. Patanjali also delineated four primary paths: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Raja Yoga.

The Bhagavad Gita further advanced the philosophy of Karma Yoga, stating: “Yoga is equanimity, skill in action, and detachment from sorrow” (Bhagavad Gita 2.48). In more recent times, Swami Vivekananda championed Raja Yoga, describing it as a path to realise divinity through mental discipline.

In India, Yoga has been incorporated into the National Games, officially recognising it as a competitive sport. In 2016, the USA Yoga Federation achieved a milestone by registering Yoga as an official sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee.

The Global Evolution of Yoga